Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-03-08
Wilmington in Forsy-tvo Years

The notes which We publish to-day,
from . Wilmington directory published
In 1915, and the first directory Of Viii.
mington, ever published will be Of con-
siderable local interest to our readers
But few comparatively are living to-
day who were prominent and leading
citizens in that day. Forty-two years,
however, 10 . long stretch Of time, con.
siderable more than . generation, and
We can but naturally look for many
changes. The city which then had but
0,639 Inhabitants 10 nov doubling mp
towards 60, 900, the old strees are
where they were, but the names Of
many Of Thorn have been changed, and
the houses have been numbered. But
few buildings are now what they were
forty-two years ago. The City Hall
stands intact 90 far % front Wow 10
concerned, but the rear hes been clutter
cd mp with new wings and additions.
Looking along Market street., We and
but two well-knoWn citizens In bust
moss now In the same place where they
were forty-two yeArs ago. One Of these
10 Benjamin 8. CLARK, jeweler, who
does business In the same store, and
although time has sllvered his head, he
can see - sharp % ever through the
intricate works Of watch or clock.
The other to whom We refer 10 James
Morrow, the we'll know and popular
grocer and oonfecnoper. Friend Nor.
row has rebuilt since 1845, but he Is on
the same spot, and some Of his sons
older now than he Was when he COM
mencsi business there, are associated
with him. Going around on Front
street between TatnAll and West, We
find lawrence Glatts, making custom
made boots and shoes ~ ne d..i forty
two years ago In the same place. There
may be other old citizens carrying on
business In the same place where they
were when the drst directory WAS pub
lished, but they have not been brought
TO our notice. Several persons, trades
men and others not carrying ON bust
ness, sill reside In the same place. The
publishers Of the first directory only
made IN effort to get the heads Of fAmi.
lies and thoss In business, in conse.
quence Of which the names OF many
young men over age and not carrying
on business In that day did not appear
In the first directory Of Wilmington, and
there may still be others living who
were heads OF families and In business
at that time whom, for want OF personal
knowledge, We have not been able to
locate.
Let us right here indulge In . little
speculation rs regards the population OF
Wilmington In forty.two years moro
from this time. For the sake OF conve.
nience In calculation we will assume
the population In 1S45 to be in round
numbers 10,oo0 though 1t was nearer
600, and the population ct the pres
emit time to be 60. 900, the latter 10 not
too high figure. Well, then, II II, 900
OF . population increased to 10000
In forty-two years, what should
be the increase Of 10000 In
forty-two years more? The question Is
plain and simple one In proportion
which almost any school boy with .
knowledge Of the primary rules OF
arithmetic can solve. II 10000 In
forty.two years produce $4,000, one
thousand will produce the one ten th OF
10000, which 10 5000, Then II one
thousand produce 5000 In forsy.two
years, 10000 will produce sixty times
5000 In forty.two years, which will be
$780, 900. This sounds immense, but 1t
is In the wood. Oar old friends whom
we have named to-day In our local
article, and who were knocking around
the COW paths OF Wilmington forty.
two years ago, when 1t had but 10, 900
population, were no doubt As incredu
Ions then when told that they would
see city Of 10000 population In forty.
two years rs our young friends now
may be when told that In forty-two
years more they will live In city Of
800, 900 population II they continue tc
live In Wilmington. What young mar
engaged in business on Market or KIM
street will be engaged in the same bust
ness In the same store forty-two year
hence, when Wilmington will be cit,
as large rs Boston or st. Louis?